You currently have javascript disabled. Several functions may not work. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality.

Welcome to Ultimate Subaru Message Board, my lurker friend!

Welcome to Ultimate Subaru Message Board, an unparalleled Subaru community full of the greatest Subaru gurus and modders on the planet! We offer technical information and discussion about all things Subaru, the best and most popular all wheel drive vehicles ever created.

We offer all this information for free to everyone, even lurkers like you! All we ask in return is that you sign up and give back some of what you get out - without our awesome registered users none of this would be possible! Plus, you get way more great stuff as a member! Lurk to lose, participate to WIN*!

Say hello and join the conversation

Subscribe to topics and forums to get automatic updates

Get your own profile and make new friends

Classifieds with all sorts of Subaru goodies

Photo hosting in our gallery

Meet other cool people with cool cars

Seriously, what are you waiting for? Make your life more fulfilling and join today! You and your Subaru won't regret it, we guarantee** it.

* The joy of participation and being generally awesome constitutes winning** Not an actual guarantee, but seriously, you probably won't regret it!

Steering feels stiff

'98 Legacy GT. The steering feels stiff to me lately. It seems like it "sticks" wherever it's at(as in, it resists turning if straight, or resists returning to center if turned). Kind of hard to pinpoint, but just doesn't feel right to me. PS pump has fluid(at proper level).

try spraying somre lubricant on the steering u joint. it it is old and stiff it may be your problem. the spray will only be a short term fix, but at least you will know what the problem is. you can swap in any steering u-joint 95 - 99 that is NOT and outback. outback is different.

an oil can with 30wt oil may do the job, if you can reach it, and it may last longer.

try spraying somre lubricant on the steering u joint. it it is old and stiff it may be your problem. the spray will only be a short term fix, but at least you will know what the problem is. you can swap in any steering u-joint 95 - 99 that is NOT and outback. outback is different.

an oil can with 30wt oil may do the job, if you can reach it, and it may last longer.

When I went looking for a u-joint to use in the Brat for a lift, I saw no difference in a 95-99 Legacy and Outback. They appeared identical to me.

And thanks, I'll check the u-joint. Belt is good, it's not that old, and no signs of it slipping.

When I went looking for a u-joint to use in the Brat for a lift, I saw no difference in a 95-99 Legacy and Outback. They appeared identical to me.

The outback steering coupler is longer between the two u-joints because they have spacers between the body and the crossmembers on the outbacks.

Last one I bought was $75 new from the dealer, so they're not too expensive to replace. Just don't spin the steering wheel while you have the coupler removed, the clock spring connector for the airbag will break and that's much more expensive to fix.

With the recent cold weather blast here in Denver, I've noticed the issue a bit more. And it feels like a U-joint, in that it is stiff, then turns easier, then gets stiff again. Haven't poked my head down there yet, but I may just go grab another at the junkyard for cheap, and swap it out.

Very much the ujoint. I got it off today, and the one part of the upper joint was too seized to move by hand. Put in the one I got from the junkyard, and my steering is much better now. It returns to center again.